Government to observe Constitution Day tomorrow

New Delhi: India is going to observe the Constitution Day on 26th November from this year onwards.

Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs decided that the parliament complex will be lit up in the evening tomorrow to observe the day. A special session of the parliament will also be held where lawmakers will pay tributes to the contributors in the constitution’s making.

The HRD ministry has urged all schools across India to have at least one period on the Constitution of India and conduct essay and quiz competitions. They are also told to ensure that students read the preamble to the constitution.

Likewise, colleges have been urged to have mock parliament session and debates.

The Central government has also announced that it will be having a year-long celebration of BR Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary. Ambedkar played a key role in the making of our constitution.

The fundamental rights stated in the constitution in recent times have been violated. Article 21 of Indian constitution gives the right to protection of life and private property to its citizens.

Country-wide reaction to Aamir Khan’s comments is an example of a threat to the right to freedom of free speech and expression as stated in Article 19 (1)(a).

Every country in its infant stage has tried to make an ideal constitution and follow that but in times of internal unrest, leaders and civilians forget to follow it. Our neighbor Pakistan has faced this situation multiple times when an army general usurped power through a coup and violated constitutional rights. This problem is faced more by the countries who had got their freedom from the imperialists.

India has been very fortunate not to face such circumstances. India mostly stuck to its constitution and it has been an important factor in building the image of India at the international stage.

British, at the time of leaving the country, said that Indians wouldn’t be able to govern themselves as they lacked the skills to do it. Though we have successfully proved them wrong, a lot of work is still needed to be done.

India is blessed with a great constitution but unfortunately, a large section of the population is not even aware of the rights they possess. And without the practical usefulness, a constitution is nothing more than just a book.

Constitution should give a sense of security and strength to the people. It should help make them believe that they can fight back if wronged. However, without the knowledge, it can’t be expected.

It is a disgrace that mostly people study the Constitution when they have to prepare for civil service entrance examination or any government job. There should be more awareness regarding the Constitution not because of patriotism but to defend the rights of a common man. The Constitution is there to make life easier, it is there to keep a check on those who are in power.

The largest written constitution in the world should not be treated just as a book or a manual. In the short history of free India, our Constitution has played its part and the need will escalate in coming days.

The report also highlighted that India uses the largest amount of groundwater -- 24 per cent of the global total and the country is the third largest exporter of groundwater -- 12 per cent of the global total.

Global groundwater depletion - where the amount of water taken from aquifers exceeds the amount that is restored naturally - increased by 22 per cent between 2000 and 2010, said the report, adding that India's rate of groundwater depletion increased by 23 per cent during the same period. Pixabay

As many as one billion people in India live in areas of physical water scarcity, of which 600 million are in areas of high to extreme water stress, according to a new report.

Globally, close to four billion people live in water-scarce areas, where, for at least part of the year, demand exceeds supply, said the report by non-profit organisation WaterAid.

This number is expected to go up to five billion by 2050, said the report titled “Beneath the Surface: The State of the World’s Water 2019”, released to mark World Water Day on March 22.

Pure water droplet. Pixabay

Physical water scarcity is getting worse, exacerbated by growing demand on water resources and and by climate and population changes.

By 2040 it is predicted that 33 countries are likely to face extremely high water stress – including 15 in the Middle East, most of Northern Africa, Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan and Spain. Many – including India, China, Southern Africa, USA and Australia – will face high water stress.

Globally, close to four billion people live in water-scarce areas, where, for at least part of the year, demand exceeds supply, said the report by non-profit organisation WaterAid. Pixabay

Global groundwater depletion – where the amount of water taken from aquifers exceeds the amount that is restored naturally – increased by 22 per cent between 2000 and 2010, said the report, adding that India’s rate of groundwater depletion increased by 23 per cent during the same period.

The report also highlighted that India uses the largest amount of groundwater — 24 per cent of the global total and the country is the third largest exporter of groundwater — 12 per cent of the global total.

The WaterAid report warned that food and clothing imported by wealthy Western countries are making it harder for many poor and marginalised communities to get a daily clean water supply as high-income countries buy products with considerable “water footprints” – the amount of water used in production — from water-scarce countries. (IANS)